I’m delighted by a blank space on my calendar that allows for a long meander. Heading out after breakfast, with both belly and water bottle filled, I often decide the path I’ll take once I’m on the greenway. Turning left is a route only for days when I’m short on time. Turning right opens up a few possibilities for hours of exploring and noticing.

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. -Thoreau

Even after I’ve turned right, I’m not sure how many miles I’ll cover or how long it will take. I get distracted by wildflowers, mushrooms, and the changing color of leaves. It takes time to properly appreciate beauty, to listen for birdsong or watch squirrels frolic.

Appreciating beauty also includes stopping to take pictures from many angles, deleting some then taking more. At times the light is just right, other times the photo doesn’t come close to representing what’s in front of me.

When the skies are blue, I like to wander by a lake where there are herons hunting and turtles basking in the sun. They are used to people passing by, so the sounds of footsteps and conversation don’t alarm them. Sometimes they seem to be posing for me.

Eventually I notice that my water bottle and belly are empty, that it is time to head home. I walk slowly, my head turning left and right, not wanting to miss anything. By the time I’m home, my legs are tired and I’m ready to kick off my shoes and sit for a while. Maybe I’ll make lunch, or maybe I’ll take a few moments to look through the photos on my phone, already reminiscing about my morning meander.